24 May 2013

Western Pacific Odyssey 2013 Part 3 - More Seabirds



Tahiti Petrel 
Pseudobulweria rostrata

Here below are some more of the seabirds we saw during the first few days of the voyage.  I put Tahiti Petrel as the "headline" bird here because it was one of our favourite birds of the trip, not least because it was slow moving and easy to identify.  We saw most of them around New Caledonia.

Tasman Booby
Sula dactylatra tasmani



Tasman Booby
Sula dactylatra tasmani

Red-footed Booby
Sula sula


Red-footed Booby
Sula sula


Brown Booby
Sula leucogaster


Little Shearwater
Puffinus assimilis


Sooty Shearwater 
Puffinus griseus


Sooty Shearwater 
Puffinus griseus


Sooty Shearwater 
Puffinus griseus

From Norfolk Island through to the Solomons, we found Wedge-tailed Shearwaters very common.  Even if there was not much else around, a "Wedgie" was never far from view.


Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Puffinus pacificus

Wedge-tailed Shearwater
Puffinus pacificus


Kermadec Petrel
Pterodroma neglecta

Kermadec Petrel
Pterodroma neglecta

Kermadec Petrel
Pterodroma neglecta

Tahiti Petrel 
Pseudobulweria rostrata

Tahiti Petrel 
Pseudobulweria rostrata

Tahiti Petrel 
Pseudobulweria rostrata

Tahiti Petrel 
Pseudobulweria rostrata

Tahiti Petrel 
Pseudobulweria rostrata
The "cookilaria" petrels are difficult to identify but we've numbered the photos here to aid any discussion about identity.  Even with the photo on screen and the book open we still struggle to tell them apart.

Black-winged Petrel 
Pterodroma nigripennis


Black-winged Petrel 
Pterodroma nigripennis


Black-winged Petrel 
Pterodroma nigripennis


Black-winged Petrel 
Pterodroma nigripennis


Black-winged Petrel 
Pterodroma nigripennis


Black-winged Petrel 
Pterodroma nigripennis


Black-winged Petrel 
Pterodroma nigripennis


Black-winged Petrel 
Pterodroma nigripennis


Black-winged Petrel 
Pterodroma nigripennis


Black-winged Petrel 
Pterodroma nigripennis


Black-winged Petrel 
Pterodroma nigripennis


Black-winged Petrel 
Pterodroma nigripennis


Black-winged Petrel 
Pterodroma nigripennis



Gould's Petrel
Pterodroma leucoptera

Gould's Petrel
Pterodroma leucoptera

Gould's Petrel
Pterodroma leucoptera

White-necked Petrel
Pterodroma cervicalis


White-necked Petrel
Pterodroma cervicalis


White-necked Petrel
Pterodroma cervicalis



Wilson's Storm-petrel
Oceanites oceanicus

With breakfast coinciding with some of the best time for wildlife viewing, it was easy sometimes to feel "torn" between dedication and food. The smell of bacon usually proved an irresistible lure for me.   On 31st March, when most of the people had gone down for breakfast,   Jemi stayed on the top with Kate, Liz & Mike searching for cetaceans and seabirds.  They were glad they did;  rewarded with a sperm whale  most of us missed ! ….



Sperm Whale  
Physter macrocephalus

Sperm Whale  
Physter macrocephalus

Sperm Whale  
Physter macrocephalus

2 comments:

  1. Looks like a great trip John............and we still haven't seen your New Guines pics yet!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Stu,

    We're still addicted to seabirds, but we're running out of those.

    In Part 4 we'll reach the Solomons, where I'm sure you'll agree the White-eyes look "different"... so different, I don't know why they call them "White-eyes" at all !

    ReplyDelete